Visceral Index Research Articles

Effects of body composition and liver function after long-term pemafibrate treatment on dyslipidemia-associated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Owing to the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and dyslipidemia, there is a need for new treatment strategies to manage both conditions concomitantly. Our aim in this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of pemafibrate in alleviating dyslipidemia-associated NAFLD, including the evaluation of its effects on liver function and body composition. The study sample included 67 patients with dyslipidemia-associated NAFLD (29 males, mean age 65.7 years [range, 58.4-73.7]) who were administered pemafibrate continuously for a period of at least 12 months, between June 2019 and January 2022. Outcomes were the change in body composition indices (visceral adipose tissue index - VATI, subcutaneous adipose tissue index - SATI, and skeletal muscle index - SMI), lipid biochemistry, and liver function, reserve, and fibrosis score, from baseline to the 12-month time point of pemafibrate treatment. Pemafibrate treatment improved liver function (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, g-glutamyl transpeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase), and lipid biochemistry (triglycerides and total cholesterol). Improvements in ferritin and hepatic reserve (Mac-2 binding protein, albumin-to-bilirubin score, and NAFLD fibrosis score) were also observed, as well as a decrease in SATI. Pemafibrate improved dyslipidemia, liver function, and hepatic reserve. The positive effects of pemafibrate on body composition likely contributed to the improvements in liver function. Longer-term treatment may be necessary to influence VATI and thus to further evaluate the relationship between improved body composition and NAFLD with pemafibrate treatment.

The Importance of Uric Acid High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Ratio As an Indicator of Visceral Adiposity

Objective: A number of anthropometric measurements are being developed to detect metabolic risks in overweight and obesity. Our purpose is to investigate the relationship of visceral adipocyte index (VAI), which is useful as a marker of adipocyte dysfunction with the ratio of uric acid to high-density lipoprotein ratio (UHR), an inflammatory marker, considering body mass index groups and accompanying metabolic syndrome (MetS). Material and Methods: In all, 509 female participants aged 18-60 years, admitted to the Outpatient Department of Endocrinology, Erzurum Training, and Research Hospital, were involved in this study. Our study group consisted of 409 patients (63 overweight, 202 obese, and 144 morbid obese) and 100 healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements, including height, weight, and waist circumferences, were measured, and VAI values were calculated for all participants. All subjects had been tested with biochemistry analysis for lipid profile tests and uric acid. Results: UHR level was significantly elevated in the patient group [10.9 (3.8-30.4%)] compared with the control group [7.29 (3.44-19.3 %)]. The highest UHR level was found in the morbid obese group, 12.3 (5.8-30 %), and the lowest UHR level was in the overweight group [8.63 (3.8-17 %)]. A moderately strong positive correlation was found between VAI and UHR in both patient and control groups, and the strongest correlation was found in the overweight group (r=0.586, R2=0.319). In addition, the UHR level was 12.2 (6-30%) in the patient group with MetS and 9.7 (3.8-23%) in the patients without MetS. Conclusion: Since the BMI is insufficient regarding prognosis and obesity-related mortality, it should be supported with VAI, a new anthropometric cardiometabolic risk indicator. UHR might be a sensitive and accurate indicator of visceral fat excess even in the early stages of obesity and MetS.

COVID-19 Pozitif ve Negatif Hastalar Arasında Toraks Bilgisayarlı Tomografi Tabanlı Vücut Kompozisyon Parametrelerinin Karşılaştırılması: Kesitsel Bir Çalışma

Objective: To compare body fat-muscle and visceral obesity indices that can be measured with thorax computed tomography (CT) between reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) positive and negative patients. Material and Methods: This retrospective, comparative study included 141 PCR (+) and 150 PCR (-) patients who applied to our hospital with flu-like symptoms without having the comorbid diseases and undergone thoracic CT between April 1, 2020-July 1, 2020. For the each patient, the ratio of thoracic subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness to pectoralis major muscle thickness (TSAT/PMJ), epicardial adipose tissue thickness (EAT), liver density (LD), abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness to psoas major muscle thickness ratio (ASAT/ PSM), subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue thickness to erector spinae muscle thickness ratio (ASAT/ESM) was measured. The comparison was made between the subgroups in terms of age, gender, and measured parameters. Results: Statistically significant difference was found between PCR (+) and (-) individuals in terms of EAT mean (p0.05) in terms of TSAT/PMJ, ASAT/PSM, LD, ASAT/ESM. Conclusion: Higher EAT values can increase the risk of getting coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) infection. Peripheral fat-muscle indices don't increase the risk of contracting COVID-19 infection.

The improvement of treatment and prevention of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression against the background of metabolic disorders

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver diseases, with pathogenetic mechanisms involving complex factors, in particular changes in the intestinal microbiota. The development and evaluation of the effectiveness of NAFLD treatment regimens, affecting intestinal microbiota disturbances, presents an urgent issue in modern medicine. Objective — to determine effects of combined therapy, including ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and probiotic preparation (strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, Streptococcus salivarius subsp. thermophilus, L. delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus) on the metabolic disorders and inflammatory processes in liver tissue of patients with NAFLD. Materials and methods. The study included 108 patients with NAFLD with metabolic disorders and 30 people of the control group, who were examined on the basis of the Department of Gastroenterology and Therapy and outpatient department of the GI «L. T. Mala National Institute of Therapy of the NAMS of Ukraine». Women prevailed in both groups. The mean age of patients was 54.6 ± 11.7 years. The patients were randomized into two groups, comparable by gender and age ratio. Both groups received non‑drug therapy. The comparison group (48 patients) received UDCA preparation only, the main group (60 patients) received additional probiotic preparation «Yogurt capsules» (Pharmascience Inc., Canada). The treatment lasted 12 weeks. Patients were examined at the beginning and end of treatment with additional determination of pro‑inflammatory markers: C‑reactive protein CRP and TNF‑α. Statistical analysis was performed with the package Statistica 13.1 using nonparametric methods. Results. Patients’ examination in the dynamics of treatment showed an improvement in NAFLD course due to a decrease in the levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and γ‑glutamyl peptidase (ALT, AST and GGT) in both groups. Moreover, against the background of treatment, the tendency was observed to the decrease of visceral fat percentage, as well as the visceral obesity index, which in group I significantly decreased in almost 1.6 times. In contrast to the carbohydrate metabolism indicators, the dynamics of which did not differ significantly between the groups, a significant effect of the developed therapy on the lipid profile was determined. The triglycerides (TG) levels in the main group decreased 1.3 times, and LDL cholesterol 1.6 times. In addition, the significant decrease in TNF‑alpha levels by 57.51 % was observed under the influence of treatment with the addition of probiotic yogurt. Conclusions. Combined therapy which includes lifestyle modification by means of non‑drug therapy, UDCA with the additional use of a complex probiotic preparation yogurt capsules, has a pathogenetic focus and proven effectiveness in the treatment of NAFLD.

U-shaped relationship between subcutaneous adipose tissue index and mortality in liver cirrhosis.

Subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues are important body components, but their effects on the mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis remain controversial based on the current evidence. We retrospectively identified 372 eligible patients in whom subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI) and visceral adipose tissue index (VATI) could be measured by computed tomography images at the third lumbar vertebra. The association of SATI and VATI with the risk of death was evaluated on a continuous scale with restricted cubic spline curves based on Cox proportional hazards models. Cumulative probability of mortality was estimated by Nelson-Aalen cumulative risk curve analyses. Independent predictors of death were evaluated by competing risk analyses after adjusting for age, sex, and model for end-stage liver disease score. Majority of patients were male (69.4%) with a mean age of 55.40±10.68years. SATI had a U-shaped association with mortality (P for non-linearity <0.001). Cutoff values of SATI were 19.7 and 51.8cm2 /m2 at the points where hazard ratios were just <1.2. SATI was categorized as low (<19.7cm2 /m2 ), moderate (19.7-51.8cm2 /m2 ), and high (>51.8cm2 /m2 ) level. There was no significant difference in the cumulative probability of mortality between low versus moderate SATI groups (Gray's test, P=0.052) and high versus moderate SATI groups (Gray's test, P=0.054). Competing risk analyses demonstrated that low SATI could increase the mortality compared with moderate SATI (subdistribution hazard ratio [sHR]=1.66, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.992-2.78, P=0.054) and was an independent predictor of death (sHR=1.86, 95% CI: 1.059-3.28, P=0.031). Competing risk analyses also demonstrated that high SATI could significantly increase the mortality compared with moderate SATI (sHR=1.6, 95% CI: 1-2.54, P=0.049), and was an independent predictor of death (sHR=2.007, 95% CI: 1.195-3.37, P=0.0085). VATI had an irregularly shaped association with mortality (P for non-linearity <0.001). Cutoff values of VATI were 9.8 and 40.2cm2 /m2 at the points where hazard ratios were just <1.2. VATI was categorized as low (<9.8cm2 /m2 ), moderate (9.8-40.2cm2 /m2 ), and high (>40.2cm2 /m2 ) level. There was no significant difference in the cumulative probability of mortality between low versus moderate VATI groups (Gray's test, P=0.381) and high versus moderate VATI groups (Gray's test, P=0.787). Competing risk analyses demonstrated that neither low (sHR=1.27, 95% CI: 0.599-2.7, P=0.53) nor high VATI (sHR=0.848, 95% CI: 0.539-1.34, P=0.48) was an independent predictor of death compared with moderate VATI. Both excessive deficiency and accumulation of subcutaneous adipose tissues negatively influence the outcomes of cirrhotic patients.

Positive Association Between the Chinese Visceral Adiposity Index and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Lean Adults.

Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) is a novel indicator that precisely evaluates visceral obesity and has been shown to be significantly associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in the general population. However, the relationship between CVAI and NAFLD in lean adults remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the association of CVAI with NAFLD in a lean population and evaluate the diagnostic capability of CVAI for lean NAFLD. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 9,607 lean adults (body mass index < 24kg/m2), who underwent their annual health examinations at the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine in 2021. NAFLD was determined by ultrasonography to the exclusion of other known etiologies. The prevalence of NAFLD was 16.4% in this lean population. CVAI values were significantly higher in participants with NAFLD than those without NAFLD and the CVAI quartile was positively associated with the prevalence of NAFLD, which was 0.4%, 6.0%, 19.4%, and 39.8% among the participants with CVAI in quartile 1 to 4, respectively (P for trend < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis found that CVAI was positively associated with the risk of NAFLD (adjusted odds ratio: 1.025, 95% confidence interval: 1.021-1.028; P < 0.001). Furthermore, CVAI had a significantly higher area under curve value for detecting NAFLD than other visceral obesity indices. Our study showed that CVAI was positively associated with the prevalence and risk of NAFLD in lean adults, and CVAI showed the highest diagnostic ability for lean NAFLD.

Visceral adiposity indices and cardiometabolic risk markers in patients with hypertension.

Arterial hypertension (AH) is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We sought to evaluate the association between two adiposity indices (visceral adiposity index [VAI] and lipid accumulation product [LAP]) with traditional markers of cardiometabolic risk in hypertensive patients. This is a cross-sectional study with 1,273 subjects with hypertension treated as outpatients at a university hospital. The VAI and LAP were calculated using formulas stratified by sex. Cardiometabolic risk variables were considered: overweight, risk for waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHA), and altered biochemical test values. The predictive effect of independent variables on outcomes was assessed by multivariate linear regression analysis. There was statistical significance when p ≤ 0.05. Higher cardiometabolic risk (according to BMI, WHR, WHA, and altered biochemical parameters) was associated with higher values of VAI and LAP with statistical significance (p ≤ 0.05). The regression models used explained 30.7% and 10.5% of the changes in LAP and VAI, respectively. LAP and VAI are associated with cardiometabolic risk parameters in the individuals evaluated, suggesting that these indices can be used to screen for CVD risk in individuals with AH.

Exploring the Mechanism of Action of Trachelospermi Caulis et Folium for Depression Based on Experiments: Combining Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

To reveal the safety, efficacy, and mechanism of action of Trachelospermi Caulis et Folium (TCEF) for treating depression. The maximum dose method was employed to evaluate the safety of TCEF, and its antidepressant activity was assessed using the tail suspension and sugar water depletion tests. The main components of TCEF were determined using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole exactive orbitrap mass spectrometer (UHPLC-Q-EOMS). The active ingredients and their action targets were obtained using network pharmacology with SwissADME and SwissTargetPrediction screening, and the targets of depression were obtained using GeneCards, DrugBank, etc. The drug and depression-related targets were intersected and analyzed via PPI network, GO, and KEGG. Subsequently, the binding ability of the core components of TCEF to the core targets was validated via molecular docking and simulation. No statistically significant difference was observed between the normal and TCEF groups in terms of body weight, visceral index, and biochemical parameters (P > 0.05). Compared with the model group, all dose groups of TCEF had reduced the immobility time of tail suspension (P < 0.05) and increased the rate of sugar water consumption (P < 0.05). UHPLC-Q-EOMS was employed to identify 59 major components of TCEF, and network pharmacology analysis was used to screen 48 active components of TCEF for treating depression, corresponding to 139 relevant targets, including ALB, AKT1, TNF, ESR1, and CTNNB1. The involved pathways include neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. The molecular docking results indicated that the core components have a good binding activity to the core targets. TCEF is a relatively safe antidepressant medicine that exerts therapeutic effects through multiple components, targets, and pathways, providing a new idea and theoretical basis for future use of TCEF to treat depression.

Effect of Enteral Nutrition on Postoperative Recovery in Patients with Appendicitis

By comparing the content of albumin and retinol-binding protein in patients with acute appendicitis before and after surgery, the effect of these two visceral proteins on patients' wounds was reviewed. In addition, after the use of enteral nutrition therapy, the content of anterior albumin and retinol-binding protein in patients was compared, and the effect of enteral nutrition on postoperative recovery in patients with appendicitis was explored. Methods: A review of 100 patients with acute appendicitis treated in the First People's Hospital of Yichang City, People's Hospital of China Three Gorges University from June 2016 to March 2018 was reviewed. Performs endoscopic appendectomy and traditional open appendectomy, respectively. Changes in PA and Bbp levels in patients before and after surgery are detected. After reviewing the patients with acute appendicitis diagnosed and surgically treated by general surgery of the Fifth Clinical Medical College of Yangzhou University, they were divided into two groups after surgery, which were given parenteral nutritional support and normal diet, and observed after a period of time to compare the visceral protein index in the blood with the postoperative healing speed. The relationship between parenteral nutrition and postoperative recovery rate of appendicitis was obtained.

Effects of varying levels of crawfish (Procambarus clarkia) shell meals on growth, fillet quality, and health of koi carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The rapidly growing of the crawfish industry generates a massive quantity of waste by-products such as heads and shells. This study evaluates crawfish shell meal (CSM) as an alternative source to fishmeal. Five isonitrogenous (crude proteins, 41%, dry matter) and isocaloric (crude lipid, 6%) experimental diets, with different levels of CSM to replace fishmeal (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%; 75% + bile acids), were formulated to feed koi carps (4.41 ± 0.1 g) for eight weeks. Fish that were fed 25% and 50% CSM diets exhibited no significant differences in growth performance or feed utilization (P > 0.05), whereas these indices decreased significantly in fish that were fed 75% CSM (P < 0.05). Additional supplementation with bile acids did not undo the adverse effects of CSM overdoses (P > 0.05). Dietary CSM increased the visceral, hepatopancreatic, intraperitoneal fat, and intestinal indices. In contrast, only 75% CSM caused the visceral, hepatopancreas, and intestinal indices to differ significantly (P < 0.05). Dietary bile acids almost restored these indices to their original values, with only the hepatopancreas index differing significantly (P < 0.05). Only 75% CSM significantly increased total serum protein, albumin, globulin, triglyceride, and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels compared to those in the control group (P < 0.05). Bile acids did not restore the original levels of these parameters (P > 0.05); however, they significantly restored the decreased muscle moisture induced by 75% fishmeal replacement (P < 0.05). No obvious differences were observed in the proximate, amino acid, and fatty acid compositions of the muscles among the various treatments (P > 0.05). The 75% CSM treatment significantly decreased muscle shearing force, which was recovered by bile acids (P < 0.05). No apparent differences in serum antioxidative and antibacterial enzymes, including catalase, total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase, and lysozyme, were observed in the serum and liver; however, replacing 75% of fishmeal with CSM increased serum glutathione peroxidase and acid phosphatase activities (P < 0.05). This study demonstrates that up to 50% of fishmeal can be replaced by CSM and that additional supplementation with bile acids has trace positive effects during CSM oversupplementation (75% supplemented level).

Pararenalfat Tissue: Rate of Pararenal Obesity and Relation with Anthropometric Indices of Obesity

Aim. To study a rate of excessive pararenal fat tissue (PRFT) thickness and its relationship with anthropometric obesity indices.Material and methods. 372 patients (152 men and 220 women) were included in the study, the average age was 63.5±13.3 years. There were measured: height, weight, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC), body mass index (BMI), WC/height ratio, sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), body fat percentage (BFP), body surface area (BSA), body adiposity index (BAI) and visceral obesity index (VAI). All subjects underwent abdominal multispiral computed tomography. PRFT thickness was detected on a single slice at the level of the left renal vein.Results. 27% of the examined group had BMI&lt;25 kg/m2, 28% – excessive body mass, 45% – obesity. The median PRFT thickness was 1.61 (1.03; 2.46) cm. There were correlations between PRFT thickness and glucose (r=0,64, p&lt;0,05) and uric acid (r=0,46, p&lt;0,05) levels. The threshold of referential PRFT thickness was 1,91cm. The rate of pararenal obesity was 9,9% among those with normal body mass, 29,3% in excessive body mass, 66,1% – in 1 class obesity, 67,7% – in 2 class, and 90,1% – in 3 class. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the PRFT thickness and obesity indices with exception of VAI and BAI: with BMI (r=0.43, p&lt;0.05), WC (r=0.57, p&lt;0.05), SAD (r=0.58, p&lt;0.05), BFP (r=0.48, p&lt;0.05), WC/height ratio (r=0.46, p&lt;0.05), and BSA (r=0.58, p&lt;0.05).Conclusion. Excessive PRFT may be detected isolated without any external anthropometric signs of obesity, wherein it is an active component of metabolic disorders typical for obesity. The most significant indices for the detection of pararenal obesity may be WC, SAD, and BSA.

Preoperative High Visceral Fat Increases Severe Complications but Improves Long-Term Prognosis after Gastrectomy for Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

This study investigated the paradox of high visceral fat mass increasing severe complications but improving long-term prognosis after radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer. This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with primary stage I–III gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy between April 2008 and June 2018. The visceral adipose tissue index (VAI) was calculated by dividing the visceral fat mass preoperatively measured on computed tomography by the square of the height. Patients with VAIs below the median cut-off value were classified as low-VAI, while those above it were classified as high-VAI. We compared the postoperative complication rate and overall survival (OS) in the low- and high-VAI groups after adjusting patient characteristics using propensity score matching (PSM). There were 155 patients in both groups after PSM. After matching, there was no significant difference in factors other than BMI and VAI that were not adjusted. The high-VAI group had more severe postoperative complications (p = 0.018), but the OS was significantly better in the high-VAI group (hazard ratio 0.611, 95%CI 0.403–0.928, p = 0.021). Preoperative high visceral fat mass not only increased severe complications, but also improved OS after gastrectomy in patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Influence of Huangqin Decoction on the immune function and fecal microbiome of chicks after experimental infection with Escherichia coli O78

Huangqin Decoction (HQD), a traditional Chinese medicine formula from the Shang Han Lun written by Zhang Zhongjing, has been used in China for nearly two thousand years. According to the traditional Chinese medicine and previous literature, HQD has the effect of clearing heat, removing toxins, relieving diarrhea and pain. Therefore, HQD was used to prevent or cure many diseases, such as inflammation, diarrhea, malaria, and other acute or chronic gastrointestinal diseases. The effect of HQD, one-herb-absent HQD treatments and enrofloxacin (ENR) on the average daily gain (ADG), mortality rates, visceral index and toll-like receptors (TLRs), inflammatory factors and intestinal microflora in E. coli O78-inoculated chicks were investigated. HQD supplementation increased ADG and reduced the mortality rates caused by E. coli challenge, decreased the heart, liver, bursa of Fabricius (BF) and spleen index. HQD supplementation decreased the serum lysozyme (LZM), IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6 level, down-regulated the mRNA expression of TLR4, -5 and -15 in the spleen by E. coli challenged chicks, and up-regulated the mRNA expression of TLR4, -5 and -15 in BF. At the phylum level, HQD supplementation reversed the increase of Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTUs), decreased the relative abundance of harmful bacteria Proteobacteria, increased the relative abundance of probiotic bacteria Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. At the genus level, HQD decreased the relative abundance of harmful bacteria Escherichia-Shigella and Pseudomonas. It means that HQD treatment reversed the change of the gut microbiota structure. Compared with HQD, HQD-DZ and HQD-HQ increased the mortality rates. HQD-HQ decreased the ADG and liver index. HQD-GC decreased the spleen index. All herb-absent increased the serum IL-6, but only the HQD-HQ and HQD-SY increased the serum TNF-α. All herb-absent did not activate the TLRs signaling pathways in spleen and BF of chicks. The harmful bacteria Escherichia-Shigella were increased in HQD-HQ and HQD-DZ treatments. HQD-DZ treatment also increased the level of Proteobacteria. The results showed that dietary supplementation with HQD, by down-regulating the mRNA expression of TLR4, -5 and -15 in the spleen, further decreasing the serum LZM and IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6 level, improves the immune function and reverses the change of fecal microbiome in chicks challenged with E. coli. In herb-absent supplementation, the results showed that SY and DZ play a key role in reducing the levels of inflammatory factors and keeping fecal microbiome balance respectively. More importantly, HQ is indispensable in HQD, not only play a key role in reducing the level of inflammatory factors, but also in keeping the balance of fecal microflora.

Relationship between visceral fat related index and the severity of acute pancreatitis

Relationship between visceral fat related index and the severity of acute pancreatitis

Relationship Between Fat Mass Indices and Postoperative Complications After Laparoscopic Gastrectomy in Patients With Gastric Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

Visceral adipose tissue index (VAI) and visceral-to-subcutaneous adipose tissue area ratio (VSR) are indices related to visceral fat mass, and intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC) is an index related to intramuscular fat. We investigated the impact of fat mass-related indices on the incidence of postoperative complications. Patients who underwent radical laparoscopic gastrectomy for c-stage I primary gastric cancer between April 2014 and December 2020 were included. We investigated the relationship between both VAI, VSR, IMAC and postoperative complications. For each value, the median was used as a cut-off point, the patients were divided into high- and low-fat groups, and background adjustments using propensity score matching analysis were used to compare these two groups. Of the 490 patients, 245 (50.0%) were in the high-VAI group, 243 (49.6%) in the high-VSR group, and 239 (48.8%) in the high-IMAC group. After matching, intra-abdominal abscess and pancreatic fistula were greater in the high-VAI group than those in the low-VAI group (p=0.081 and p=0.081, respectively), and were also significantly greater in the high-VSR group (p=0.012 and p=0.025, respectively). However, anastomotic leakage was greater in the high-IMAC group than in the low-IMAC group (p=0.050). VAI and VSR, which reflect visceral fat mass, were useful in predicting intra-abdominal infections, whereas IMAC, which reflects intramuscular fat, was useful in predicting anastomotic leakage. Preoperative prediction using a combination of these factors may aid clinical assessment of complication risk.

Growth, Nutrient Retention, Waste Output, and Antioxidant Capacity of Juvenile Triangular Bream (Megalobrama terminalis) in Response to Dietary Selenium Yeast Concentration.

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of different dietary selenium yeast levels on growth, nutrient retention, waste output, and antioxidant capacity of juvenile triangular bream (Megalobrama terminalis). Five isonitrogenous (320 g/kg crude protein) and isolipidic (65 g/kg crude lipid) diets were formulated, with supplementation of graded levels of selenium yeast at 0 (diet Se0), 1 (diet Se1), 3 (diet Se3), 9 (diet Se9), and 12 g/kg (diet Se12). No significant differences were found in initial body weight, condition factor, visceral somatic index, hepatosomatic index, and whole body contents of crude protein, ash, and phosphorus among fish fed different test diet. The highest final body weight and weight gain rate were found in fish fed diet Se3. The specific growth rate (SGR) is closely related to dietary selenium (Se) concentrations with a relationship described as SGR = -0.0043 Se2 + 0.1062 Se + 2.661. Higher feed conversion ratio was found, while lower retention efficiencies of nitrogen and phosphorus were found in fish fed diets Se1, Se3, and Se9 than in fish fed diet Se12. Contents of selenium in whole body, vertebra, and dorsal muscle increased with dietary supplementation of selenium yeast increased from 1 mg/kg to 9 mg/kg. Lower nitrogen and phosphorous waste was found in fish fed diets Se0, Se1, Se3, and Se9 than in fish fed diet Se12. Fish fed diet Se3 exhibited the highest activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and lysozyme while the lowest malonaldehyde content in both the liver and kidney. Our results showed that the optimal dietary selenium requirement for triangular bream should be 12.34 mg/kg based on the nonlinear regression on SGR, and fish fed diet Se3 in which selenium concentration (8.24 mg/kg) was close to the optimal requirement displayed the best growth performance, feed nutrient utilization, and antioxidant capacity.

Association of myosteatosis with various body composition abnormalities and longer length of hospitalization in patients with decompensated cirrhosis.

BackgroundMyosteatosis is linked to dismal outcomes in the context of cirrhosis. However, the association of myosteatosis with various body composition abnormalities remains enigmatic. We aimed to clarify the determinants of myosteatosis and its relationship with other body composition profiles and length of hospitalization (LOH).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the data of 473 consecutive patients with cirrhosis hospitalized for decompensation. Computed tomography-based segmentation of the cross-sectional area at the third lumbar vertebra was used to evaluate body composition abnormalities. The categories of myosteatosis were built according to our previously outcome-based cutoffs for each gender.ResultsTotally, 83 patients (17.55%) were stratified as myosteatosis, of whom 85.54% had concomitant high visceral adiposity indicative of increased visceral adipose tissue index (VATI). The prevalence of sarcopenia showed no significant difference between the groups with and without myosteatosis. Multivariate analysis showed that advanced age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.097, p < 0.001], higher visceral to subcutaneous ratio of adipose tissue area (VSR; OR = 1.574, p = 0.032), and higher VATI (OR = 1.026, p < 0.001) are independently associated with myosteatosis. Correlation analyses revealed a positive relationship between intramuscular adipose tissue content (IMAC) and VATI (ρ = 0.48, p < 0.001), subcutaneous adipose tissue index (SATI) (ρ = 0.36, p < 0.001), and age (ρ = 0.36, p < 0.001). None of the skeletal muscle or adipose tissue indicators were significantly related to longer LOH.ConclusionHigher VSR, higher VATI, and advanced age are associated with myosteatosis among patients with cirrhosis at the decompensation phase. It is tempting to target divergent adipose tissue depots aimed at timely intervention/prevention of myosteatosis.

Nutritional Evaluation of Black Soldier Fly Frass as an Ingredient in Florida Pompano (Trachinotus carolinus L.) Diets.

Simple SummaryCarnivorous fish species, such as the Florida pompano, currently require expensive and unsustainable feed in order to be raised in an aquaculture setting. A waste product of the black soldier fly, frass has the potential to be an alternative carbohydrate source for these fish. This study aims to assess the potential of frass to mimic the growth, body, composition, and intestinal microbiome of pompano that can be achieved through commercial feed. Three diets with varying frass levels as well as a control diet were developed. The frass was found to increase the visceral somatic index and lower the hepatosomatic index. The frass did not alter the body composition or improve the growth performance, leading to a lower specific growth rate and higher feed conversion rate. The microbiome analysis showed the highest diversity of the gut flora in the control diet, while the frass diets showed signs of community imbalance. This may have been due to the decreased starch in the frass, which is usually metabolized by those microbial communities. Overall, frass diets are not ideal for carnivorous fish diets, but have could have potential for feed replacement in herbivore and detritivore fish species.The aquaculture industry is in need of sustainable fish feed to reduce the use of expensive and environmentally invasive wild-caught fish currently fed to many carnivorous species. The black soldier fly (BSF) has become a popular sustainable alternative protein source; however, the nutritional waste byproduct of BSF, frass, has not been extensively studied as a feed replacement in carnivorous species. This study evaluates the potential of BSF frass on the growth, body composition, and intestinal microbiome of the Florida pompano, Trachinotus carolinus. Four experimental diets were formulated containing different levels of frass, replacing plant-based carbohydrate sources. As a result of this study, the frass did not improve the growth performance, resulting in a lower specific growth rate and higher feed conversion rate. While the frass diets did not alter the body composition, the visceral somatic index (VSI) significantly increased compared to the control diet and the hepatosomatic index (HIS) was lowered. The microbiome analysis showed high variation among the diets, with the control diet having the most distinct consortia, which may have been driven by the increased levels of starch compared to frass diets. This study indicates that BSF frass may not be a suitable feed replacement for carnivorous pompano; however, frass could still potentially be a replacement feed for herbivore or detritivore fish and should be further studied.

Prognostic value of myosteatosis and systemic inflammation in patients with resectable gastric cancer: A retrospective study.

The association between systemic inflammation and myosteatosis upon diagnosis of gastric cancer (GC) and whether these factors could predict survival outcomes is not clear. Our aim was to explore the association between systemic inflammation and myosteatosis upon diagnosis of GC, specially whether the co-occurrence of these factors could predict survival outcomes. Computed tomography (CT) was performed at the level of the third lumbar vertebra for body composition analysis in 280 patients with GC. Myoesteatosis was defined as the lowest tertile of the muscle radiodensity distribution or based on clinical significance using optimal stratification analysis. Inflammatory indexes were measured, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratios. Patients with low skeletal muscle (SM) radiodensity were more likely to be older than 65 years, have a higher body mass index and have diabetes. They also had higher intermuscular visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue areas and indexes. The highest tertile of SM radiodensity was associated with better disease-free survival (DFS) (HR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.31, 0.84], ptrend = 0.020) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 0.49, 95% CI [0.29, 0.82], ptrend = 0.022). Patients with NLR > 2.3 and myosteatosis had the worst DFS and OS (HR = 2.77, 95% CI [1.54, 5.00], p = 0.001; HR = 3.31, 95% CI [1.79, 6.15], p < 0.001, respectively). Co-occurrence of myosteatosis and inflammation increased disease progression and death risk by almost three times. These regularly obtained biomarkers might improve prognostic risk prediction in resectable GC.

Replacement of fishmeal using poultry-based protein sources in feeds for pikeperch (Sander lucioperca, Linnaeus, 1758) during grow out phase

A 61-day growth experiment was carried out to evaluate the potential of a poultry-based protein (PBP) comprising of feather meal (FeM) and poultry meat and bone meal (PMBM), as a fishmeal (FM) substitute in diets of juvenile pikeperch (Sander lucioperca, L.). Pikeperch (initial body weight 113.12 g) were randomly distributed in groups of 250 fish in twelve 1.8 m3 circular recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) tanks, and fed four isonitrogenous (52% crude protein), isolipidic (17% crude lipid), and isocaloric (21.80 KJ/g energy) experimental diets. The feeds contained FM as the primary protein source (PBP0) or PBP replacing 20 (PBP20), 40 (PBP40), or 60% (PBP60) of the FM. Based on appetite and calculated uneaten feed, the feeding rate was initially set at 1.5% and subsequently reduced to 1% of the total tank biomass towards the end of the study. At the end of the experiment, the average feed intake ranged from 1.93 to 2.00 g/fish/day (p > 0.05). No adverse effects on growth and feed efficiency were observed in fish fed diets PBP0, PBP20, and PBP40. Particularly, the final body weight (FBW) (248.73, 240.11 g), feed conversion ratio (FCR) (0.86, 0.91), specific growth rate (SGR) (1.29, 1.35%/day), and protein efficiency ratio (PER) (2.20, 2.12) of fish fed PBP20 and PBP40 were not significantly different from the control PBP0 whose values ranged from 248.11 g, 0.89, 1.27%/day, and 2.18, respectively (p > 0.05). In all treatments, the condition factor (k) (1.31 to 1.33), hepatosomatic index (HSI) (2.35 to 2.70%), visceral somatic index (VSI) (6.87 to 7.19%), and whole-body composition of crude protein (57.77–58.28%) and crude lipid (23.85–26.85%) were not significantly influenced by the dietary PBP inclusion level (p > 0.05). However, whole-body ash content was significantly higher in PBP60 (14.66%) compared to the other treatments (12.57–14.43%) (p < 0.05). Based on the results from this study, up to 40% of FM can be replaced by PBP in diets for pikeperch juveniles without compromising growth performance and feed utilization.